Plates: the lithosphere is broken into seperate sections Scientific Theory: a well tested concept that explains a wide range of observations Plate Tectonics: geological theory that states the pieces of earth's lithosphere are in constant, slow motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle Faults: breaks in earth's crust where rocks have slipped past each other Transform Boundary: place where two plates slip past each other, moving in opposite directions Divergent Boundary: place where two plates move apart Convergent Boundary: place where two plates come together Rift Valley: deep valley that forms along the divergent boundary
Outline
Theory of Plate Motion
Wilson combined what the geologists knew about sea floor spreading, and all the other lessons about the earth into a single theory which is the theory of plate tectonics
explains the subduction, formation, and movement of Earth's plates
convection currents rise in the asthenosphere and spreads out beneath the lithosphere
change produces in earth's surface
volcanoes
mountain ranges
deep sea trenches
Plate Boundaries
3 types of plate boundaries are: transform, divergent, and convergent boundaries
Transform boundary is a place where two plates slip past each other, moving in opposite directions
Divergent boundary is where two plates move apart
Convergent boundary is where two plate come together
The Continent's Slow Dance
the plates move at a really slow rate, about 1-10 centimeters per year
long ago continents were joined together, forming a supercontinent Wegener called Pangaea
Table of Contents
1.5 Theory of Plate Tectonics
Vocabulary
Plates: the lithosphere is broken into seperate sections
Scientific Theory: a well tested concept that explains a wide range of observations
Plate Tectonics: geological theory that states the pieces of earth's lithosphere are in constant, slow motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle
Faults: breaks in earth's crust where rocks have slipped past each other
Transform Boundary: place where two plates slip past each other, moving in opposite directions
Divergent Boundary: place where two plates move apart
Convergent Boundary: place where two plates come together
Rift Valley: deep valley that forms along the divergent boundary
Outline
Theory of Plate Motion
- Wilson combined what the geologists knew about sea floor spreading, and all the other lessons about the earth into a single theory which is the theory of plate tectonics
- explains the subduction, formation, and movement of Earth's plates
- convection currents rise in the asthenosphere and spreads out beneath the lithosphere
- change produces in earth's surface
- volcanoes
- mountain ranges
- deep sea trenches
Plate Boundaries